Scott Gerber Launches "Death to the Resume" Movement, Advising Unemployed Youth to Quit Job Search

Scott Gerber, author of the upcoming book Never Get a "Real" Job: How to Dump Your Boss, Build a Business and Not Go Broke (December 2010) has announced the launch of his "Death to the Resume” movement. With over 100 million young people unemployed and underemployed worldwide, "Death to the Resume” aims to empower young people to quit their job search, dump their dead-end 9-to-5s and build their own small businesses to protect their financial futures.

"Youth unemployment and underemployment are chronic epidemics," said Gerber at this morning’s announcement.  "The 'work hard, get good grades, and go to college to get a job' mantra our parents taught us is dead.  It's time we finally bury it once and for all."

The recession has impacted young workers more than any other demographic. While the overall unemployment rate in the U.S. was 9.5 percent in June 2010, it was 15.3 percent for those aged 20 to 24.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 51.1% of 16 to 24 year olds were unemployed in July, the highest percentage in the history of record. And according to a recent Pew Research Center study, nearly 40% of 18-29 year olds have been unemployed or underemployed since December 2007.

Millennials are the best-educated generation ever; still millions are unable to find traditional employment. Many face staggering college loans ? on average $23,200, according to data from the Project on Student Debt.  The Heartland Monitor reports that 33% of Gen-Yers have been forced to move back in with their parents. 39% of those living on their own receive family support and 32% of young people find it hard to make ends meet each month. Even worse, their difficulty in launching careers could set them back financially for years.

"Jobs are not going to materialize just because politicians say they will," explained Gerber. "The only job that is remotely safe for young people in this new economy is one of their own creation and design that they own and control.

“Sending out resumes to land that dream job does not work.  Resumes are worth less than the paper they are written on.”

Scott Gerber has built several successful businesses without a traditional business education, corporate background or outside investment dollars.  He is the author of the upcoming book Never Get a "Real" Job: How to Dump Your Boss, Build a Business and Not Go Broke.

Last month, Gerber launched the Young Entrepreneur Council, an advocacy group comprised of some of today’s most successful young entrepreneurs and business leaders.  Members include Aaron Patzer, founder of Mint.com (acquired by Intuit last year for $170 million); David Hauser, founder of the Grasshopper Group; Nick Friedman of College Hunks Hauling Junk; Matt Mickiewicz, founder of Sitepoint and 99designs.com; Michael Mothner, founder of Wpromote; Jake Nickell, co-founder of Threadless; Neil Patel, founder of KISSmetrics; Ramit Sethi, founder of IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com; Shama Kabani, founder of the Marketing Zen Group; and Dan Schawbel, founder of Millenial Branding.

The Young Entrepreneur Council offers Millenials tools and advice on how to overcome unemployment by building small businesses.  The group contributes content to business publications including Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, BusinessInsider.com, AMEX Open Forum, and Mashable.com.

“We must stand up as a generation and tell corporate America we are taking control of our futures,” continued Gerber.

Gen-Yers are encouraged to enter Gerber's “Death to the Resume” contest by sending video links of themselves destroying their resumes to Scott(at)askgerber.com.  The most creative videos will be posted on NeverGetaRealJob.com to be voted on by the community. The ten videos with the most votes by January 1, 2011 will receive one-on-one coaching from Scott Gerber and select members of the Young Entrepreneur Council.

For more information, visit NeverGetaRealJob.com/burnyourresume.

For a full listing of the Council membership, visit www.NeverGetaRealJob.com/council.